Electromechanical clock

ABSTRACT

A clock having a new and unique pendulum motor is provided. The motor includes a pendulum and means for maintaining the oscillation of the pendulum which comprises a weighted member. Means are provided for releasably securing the weighted member and means responsive to the oscillation of the pendulum are provided for causing the means for releasably securing the weighted member to release the weighted member at predetermined intervals. The weighted member applies a force to the pendulum each time the weighted member is released. Unique gearing is also provided for driving the hour hand in relation to the movement of the minute hand.

United States Patent [191 Sovenyhazi Mar. 26, 1974 ELECTROMECHANICAL CLOCK [22] Filed: May 24, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 256,222

[52] U.S. Cl 58/29, 58/30, 58/129,

310/32 [51] Int. Cl. G04c 3/04, H02k 33/14 [58] Field of Search..., 58/7, 26.5, 29, 30, 33,

Primary Examiner-Richard B. Wilkinson Assistant Examiner-Edith Simmons Jackmon Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Caesar, Rivise, Bernstein & Cohen 5 7 ABSTRACT A clock having a new and unique pendulum motor is provided. The motor includes a pendulum and means for maintaining the oscillation of the pendulum which comprises a weighted member. Means are provided for releasably securing the weighted member and means responsive to the oscillation of the pendulum are provided for causing the means for releasably securing the weighted member to release the weighted member at predetermined intervals. The weighted member applies a force to the pendulum each time the weighted member is released. Unique gearing is also provided for driving the hour hand in relation to the movement of the minute hand.

9 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures minimums I974 3,798,891

saw u or 4 ELECTROMECHANICAL CLOCK This invention relates generally to clocks and more particularly to a clock having a pendulum motor which is maintained in operation by an electromagnetic mechanism.

Battery operated clocks have several disadvantages. One of the disadvantages is that as the batteries grow weaker, the clock has the tendency to run inaccurately. Another disadvantage is that batteries do not last for a relatively long period of time. For example, most battery driven clocks do not run accurately beyond a few months when driven by size D batteries.

Another disadvantage of battery operated pendulum clocks is that the gear mechanism for driving the hands of the clock is often very complicated and needs frequent cleaning in order to maintain the accurate running of the clock.

It is, therefore, an object of the invention to overcome the aforementioned disadvantages.

Another object of the invention is to provide a new and improved battery operated clock which can run a relatively long period of time using only a pair of D sized batteries.

Another object of the invention is to provide a new and improved battery operated clock which will run accurately until the batteries can no longer drive the clock.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a new and improved clock having a pendulum motor having means for maintaining the oscillation of the pendulum which provides a uniform force to the pendulum irrespective of the power left in the batteries.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a new and improved gearing mechanism for controlling movement of the hands in response to the oscillation of the pendulum.

These and other objects of the invention are achieved by providing a pendulum motor in a clock which includes a pendulum and means for maintaining the oscillation of the pendulum. The means for maintaining the oscillation of the pendulum comprises a weighted member with means for releasably securing the weighted member and means responsive to the oscillation of the pendulum for causing the means for releasably securing the weighted member to release the weighted member at predetermined intervals. The weighted member applies a force to the pendulum each time the weighted member is released. A unique gearing mechanism is also provided for having the hour hand driven by the rotation of the minute hand.

Other objects and many of the attendant advantages of this invention will be readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of a pendulum clock embodying the invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged front elevational view of the clock mechanism with the clock face removed;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged side elevational view of the clock mechanism;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged front elevational view with the hands and bridge removed for purposes of clarity;

FIG. 5 is a rear elevational view of the clock mechanlsm;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the line 6-6 in FIG. 2;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged exploded perspective view showing the operation and actuation of the gears in the clock and the means for maintaining the oscillation of the pendulum; and

FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram of the electrical circuitry.

Referring now in greater detail to the various figures of the drawing wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts, a clock embodying the invention is shown generally at 20 in FIG. 1. Clock 20 includes a face 22 having printed thereon numerals l to 12, a pendulum 24, a second hand 26, a minute hand 28 and an hour hand 30. As best seen in FIG. 2, the hands 26, 28 and 30 are controlled by the clock mechanism which is referred to generally as 32 in FIG. 2. The pendulum 24 and the clock mechanism 32 are supported by a planar, rectangular plate 34. The plate 34 supports a bridge 36 which includes a front portion 38 and a rear portion 40. As best seen in FIG. 3, the front portion 38 and the rear portion 40 are spaced by a nut 42. The front and rear portion of the bridge are supported by a threaded fastener such as a machine screw 44 at each end thereof which is threadedly secured in an opening provided in the plate 34. The rear portion 40 of the bridge 36 is spaced from the plate 34 by a suitable cylindrical collar 46 which is provided over the threaded portion of each fastener 44 between the rear portion 40 and the plate 34.

As best seen in FIG. 6, the forward portion 38 of the bridge has secured thereto a cylindrical tube 48 which extends forwardly and transversely to the bridge 36. Also secured to the forward portion 38 of bridge 36 is a gear wheel 50. The gear wheel 40 has 60 teeth 52 which are uniformly spaced about the periphery of the wheel 50. The gear wheel is fixedly secured to the front portion 38 of the bridge 36 and is not movable with respect thereto.

Mounted adjacent to the gear wheel 50 is a gear wheel 54 which has 55 teeth 56 which are uniformly spaced about the periphery thereof. Wheel 54 is fixedly secured to a tube 58 which extends through the bore of tube 48 and is coaxially mounted therein so that tube 58 may rotate with respect to tube 48. The tube 58 includes a radially extending flange 60 which acts as a shoulder to prevent relative axial movement with respect to the tube 48. Secured at the forwardmost end of the tube 58 is the hour hand 30. Thus, for ease of reference, wheel 54 is referred to as the hour wheel since as the hour wheel 54 rotates, the hour hand 30 also rotates.

Mounted adjacent and behind the hour wheel 54 is minute wheel 62 comprised of a gear wheel having 60 teeth 64 which are uniformly spaced around the periphery of the wheel. The minute hand 62 is secured to a tube 66 which extends within the bore of tube 58 and which is coaxially mounted therein. The tube 66 is rotatable with respect to tube 58 and has secured at its forwardmost end the minute hand 28.

A third gear wheel 68 is provided having sixty teeth 70 provided about the periphery thereof. The gear wheel 68 is mounted behind the rear portion 40 of the bridge 36 and the plate 34. The gear wheel 68 is mounted on an elongated rod 72 which is journalled within an opening provided in plate 34 and extends through an opening provided in the pendulum 24 through the bore of tube 66. At the forwardmost end of the rod 72, a cylindrical collar 74 is secured to the rod 72. The collar 74 is mounted in the bore of the tube 66 and is secured transversely to the second hand 26. As the wheel 68 rotates, the second hand 26 similarly rotates.

As best seen in FIG. 4, pendulum 24 depends from a suspension spring 76. The spring 76 is secured to a bifurcated rod 78. As best seen in FIG. 6, the bifurcated rod 78 has a vertically extending slot 80 which causes the bifurcation at the forwardmost end of the rod. At the rear end of rod 78, a threaded boss is provided which extends through an opening in plate 34. A nut 84 is provided to secure the rod 78 to the plate 34. The spring 76 basically comprises a pair of leaf springs 86 and a pair of plates 88 which are bent over upon themselves and are suitably secured to the leaf springs 86. The upper plate 88 is secured within the slot 80 to the tines of bifurcated rod 78 by a suitable fastener 90. A pin 92 which extends through the lower plate 88 of the spring 76 is provided to support pendulum 24 which includes a U-shaped end 94 which hooks over the pin 92. The hook end 94 also includes a vertically elongated slot 96 which bifurcates the end of the pendulum and enables the upper end of the pendulum 24 to straddle the spring 76 as seen in FIG. 2.

As best seen in FIGS. 3 and 4, the pendulum 24 includes an upper portion 98 and a lower portion 100. The upper portion 98, as best seen in FIG. 4, preferably comprises a flat strip having an enlarged central portion 102 having an enlarged opening 104 therein. The flat strip comprising the upper portion 98 of the pendulum 24 is bent at a 90 angle at portion 106. Below the 90 bend, an elongated pin 108 is suitably secured transversely to the upper portion of the pendulum 98.

As best seen in FIG. 3, the lowermost portion 100 of the pendulum 24 comprises a rod 110, a weight 122 and an adjusting member 114. The rod 110 has a bifurcated top portion 116 having a slot 118 which extends at an upward angle from the lateral edge to the center of the rod 110. Slot 118 enables the rod 110 to be mounted on pin 108 as best seen in FIG. 4. The bifurcated portion 116 of the rod facilitates the straddling of the lowermost portion of the upper portion 98 of the pendulum.

The weight 122 is supported by the adjusting member 114. The lowermost end of the rod 110 is threaded at 120 and the adjusting member 114 has a threaded bore which is threadedly secured to the threaded portion 120. The adjusting member also includes an annularly extending flange 122 having a knurled outer periphery to facilitate rotation of the adjusting member. By the adjustment of the height of the adjusting member, the weight will be so disposed that the pendulum can be made to oscillate a complete cycle each second. That is, a back and forth swing of the pendulum should take place each second. The adjusting member 114 facilitates the movement of the weight 112 so that the finding that the pendulum is not completing an oscillation in exactly one second facilitates the movement of the weight to adjust the time of each swing of the pendulum.

As best seen in FIG. 4, a U-shaped bracket 124 having a pair of legs 126 is provided and suitably secured to the plate 34 by a pair of threaded fasteners 128. Legs 126 act as a stop to prevent too large a swing of the pendulum 24.

Referring to FIG. 4, it can be seen that the enlarged portion 102 of the upper portion 98 of the pendulum includes a laterally extending bracket 130 which acts to rotatably mount an impulse roller 132. The roller 132 is preferably made of Teflon and, as will hereinafter be seen, acts to contact a portion of the means for maintaining the oscillation of the pendulum. The upper portion of the pendulum 98 also has pivotably secured thereto a gathering lever 134. The gathering lever 134 includes a pair of gathering pins 136 and 138 which are secured transversely to the gathering lever 134. As best seen in FIG. 7 the gathering lever 134 is suitably connected to the upper portion 98 of the pendulum by a pin 140 which is maintained in place by a split spring or C-clip 142. The pin 140 is journalled in an opening in the pendulum so that the gathering lever 134 is pivotable with respect thereto.

As also best seen in FIG. 4, plate 34 has depending therefrom a release lever 144. The release lever is pivotably secured to plate 34 by pin 146 which is suitably secured to plate 34.

The release lever 144 is maintained on pin 146 by a split spring 148 which is suitably secured to pin 146. The release lever 144 includes a pair of pins 150 and 152 which are mounted centrally of the lever 144 and which extend forwardly and transversely to the forward surface of the release lever 144. A third pin 154 is provided adjacent the lower end of the release lever 144. The pin 154 extends forwardly and transversely to the front surface of the release lever 144. The release lever 144 coacts with a weighted member 156 which comprises a front portion 158 and, as best seen in FIG. 5, a rear portion 160. The front portion 158 comprises an impulse rack having a pair of impulse fingers 162 and 164 which are connected to an L-shaped lever member 166 and are integral therewith. The impulse rack 158 is connected to the weighted rear portion via a pin 168 which is secured to the extreme end of the L- shaped lever member portion of the impulse rack 158 and which extends through an opening in the plate 34 and is connected to the apex 170 of the V-shaped weighted portion 160. The rear portion 160 includes a weighted arm 172 which has secured thereto a weighted member 174 which is suitably secured thereto by a pair of fasteners 176.

The weighted arm 172 has connected at the end thereo an integral flange 178 which extends transversely to the arm and is substantially flat and has secured thereto padding 180 which acts as a cushion, as will hereinafter be seen. The weighted rear portion 160 is fixedly secured via pin 168 to the impulse rack 158. However, both the impulse rack 158 and the weighted rear portion are pivotable with respect to the plate 34 about pin 168. The portion 160 also includes a contact arm 182 which has secured thereto an electrical contact 184. The contact 184 is provided adjacent an elongated armature 186 which is pivotably connected to a bracket 188 which is supported by an electromagnetic assembly 190. The armature is pivotable about a pin 192 which extends through the arms of the brackets 188 and the armature 186. Armature 186, thus, depends from and is pivotable about pin 192. The armature has an opening 194 which is connected to the end loop of a spring 196 which is in turn connected at its other end to a pin 198. The spring 196 acts to draw the armature 186 at its uppermost end towards pin 198. The armature 186 is preferably made of a soft iron and includes an enlarged portion 200 which is provided adjacent a pair of iron cores 202 which are provided within windings 204.

One end of the windings 204 is connected via conductor 206 to terminal 208. The other end of the windings is connected via wire 210 to terminal 212. A resistor 214 is connected between terminals 208 and 212. A pair of wires 216 and 218 are connected respectively to terminal 212 and a terminal 220 which is connected via strap 222 to ground. Contact 184 of the contact arm 182 is connected through the contact arm to ground also. The wires 216 and 218 are connected to a suitable source of power such as a pair of D size one and one-half volt dry cell batteries which are preferably connected in serial. The pair of windings of the electromagnet are connected serially via wire 224. A contact 226 is also provided on armature 186 and is connected via wire 228 to terminal 208.

Provided as a stop for the armature 186 is a threaded member 230 which is secured in an integral bracket 232. The rear portion of the armature includes an abutting contact 234 which abuts the fastener 230 when the magnet is not energized. Also connected to the plate 34 is a stopping plate 236 which is suitably secured to the plate 34 by a fastener 238. The stopping plate 236 includes a cushion portion 240. The stopping plate 236 acts to prevent any further upward movement of the weighted arm 172 when it has been moved upwardly by armature 186. The cushions 180 and 240 of the flange 178 and the stopping plate 236 act to deaden the sound of the stopping action.

As best seen in FIG. 2, the releasing lever 144 has connected thereto a spring 242 which is connected at its opposite end to a pin 244. The spring 242 acts to draw the releasing lever towards pin 244.

The drawing of the lever 144 towards pin 244 also causes the pin 154 of the locking lever to be drawn against the rightmost lateral surface of the impulse rack 158. The L-shaped portion of the impulse rack 158 includes on its outermost surface a pair of notches 246 and 248. At the corner of the L-shaped portion, a third notch 250 is provided. When the lever arm 144 is drawn against the surface 252 including notches 246, 248 and 250 and the pin resides in any of the notches 246, 248 and 250, the impulse rack 158 is supported in this position thereby holding the weighted arm 160 in a fixed position with respect to the plate 34. When the pin 154 is disposed in notch 250, the impulse rack 158 is supported in its uppermost position which means that the weighted arm 160 is shown in the position shown in phantom in FIG. 5. When pin 154 is in notch 248 as shown in FIG. 4, the weighted member 160 is in the position shown in FIG. 5 in full line. When the pin 154 is in notch 246 of the impulse rack 158, the weighted member 160 is in such a position that the contact 184 of contact arm 182 abuts the contact 226 of armature 186. When contact arm 182 makes an engagement with contact 226, an electrical circuit is completed so that the magnet is energized thereby causing portion 200 of armature 186 to be drawn towards cores 202. When the portion 200 of armature 186 has reached the cores 202, the armature can go no further but the weighted arm 172 carries the weighted portion 160 until the flange 178 abuts the stopping plate 236. The contact between contacts 184 and 226 is thereby broken causing the magnet to be de-energized. When the weighted portion 160 has reached the position shown in phantom in FIG. 5 with the flange 178 abutting the stopping plate 236, the pin 154 again resides in notch 250 and supports the weighted member 156 in its uppermost position.

Referring to FIG. 2, it can be seen that the minute wheel 62 has rotatably secured thereto a pinion 254.

The pinion 254 acts to ride in the teeth 52 and 56 of stationary wheel 50 and the hour wheel 54, respectively. Thus, as the hour wheel 62 rotates, the teeth of the pinion 254 are sequentially rolled between the teeth 52 and 56 of the wheels 50 and 54. However, since there are only 55 teeth 56 as opposed to 60 teeth 52, the hour wheel 54 rotates with respect to the stationary wheel 50. Thus, after a complete rotation of the wheel 62, the pinion has had its teeth engaged in sixty of teeth 52 of the stationary wheel 50. This also causes 60 teeth 56 of the hour wheel 54 to be engaged which thereby causes a displacement of five teeth of the hour wheel with respect to the stationary wheel 50. Since there are 60 teeth in the stationary wheel, this means that the five-tooth displacement of the hour wheel means that the hour wheel has rotated one-twelfth of a revolution with respect to wheel 50. Thus, for each revolution of the minute wheel 62, the hour wheel 54 rotates one-twelfth of a revolution. This means that on the face of the clock for each complete rotation of the minute hand 28, there will have been a one-twelfth rotation for the hour hand 30 as is conventional on 12 hour clocks.

As best seen in FIGS. 2 and 6, a positioning roller 256 is rotatably mounted within the bracket 258 ofa springloaded arm 260. The spring-loaded arm 260 is pivotably connected to a pin 262. At the extreme end of the arm 260 opposite the bracket 258, a spring 264 is connected to the arm and, at its other end, is connected to a pin 266. The spring thus draws the lower end of arm 260 towards the pin thereby causing the positioning wheel 256 to be urged in the teeth 64 of the hour wheel 62. The positioning wheel 256 assures that the minute wheel 62 will be rotated only one-sixtieth of a revolution each time that it is moved.

As best seen in FIG. 4, a detenting arm 268 is pivotably mounted via pin 270 to the plate 34. The detent arm 268 has a detent finger 272 which is rested by gravity in the teeth of the second wheel 68. That is, the second wheel 68 can only be rotated in a clockwise direction as shown in FIG. 4 since the detent arm 268 can be raised upwardly about pin 270 when the wheel 68 is rotated in a clockwise direction. However, if the wheel were to rotate in a counterclockwise direction, the detent arm 268 prevents the rotation by the engagement of the detent finger 272 in one of the teeth 70.

The clock assembly is mounted to four posts 274 via a plurality of openings 276 provided in plate 34. Each of the openings 276 has an enlarged portion and a slotted portion 278 which extends vertically upwardly. As best seen in FIG. 6, each of the posts 274 has an annu lar groove 280 in which the slotted portion 278 of the opening 276 fits. Thus, the larger circular portion of the openings 276 is telescoped over the ends of the posts 274 and the plate 34 is then moved downwardly so that the slotted portion may fit within the annular slots 280 of the posts 274. It should also be understood that the plate 34 can be permanently secured to the posts by other conventional fastening means.

Finally, referring to FIG. 8, a schematic diagram is shown of the electrical circuitry. The electrical circuitry includes a battery supply 300 which preferably comprises a pair of D size 1% volt dry cell batteries. One side of the battery is connected to the electrical contact 226 and the other side of the battery is connected to resistor 214 and windings 204. The windings 204 are connected serially via wire 224 but together in parallel with the resistor 214. The contact 184 is connected to the other end of the windings 204 and the other side of resistor 214.

As can be seen, the circuitry is extremely simple with there being a direct connection of the windings 204 across the battery 300 when contact is made between contacts 184 and 226. The resistor 214 is provided in parallel across the windings 204 so that after the contacts 184 and 226 have been separated, there will not be any arcing between the contacts. That is, the closed circuit comprised of resistor 214 and windings 204 form a closed loop for any charge remaining in windings 204 after the contacts 226 and 184 are separated. Because the contacts 226 and 184 are together for only a very short time, there is very little drain on the batteries 300 and, accordingly, the battery life of the clock is extremely long.

The operation of the invention is best understood by referring to FIG. 7 wherein the assembly including the upper portion 98 of the pendulum, wheels 68 and 62, the releasing lever 144 and the impulse rack 158 are shown. The second wheel 68 includes two special grooves between teeth 70. A first special V-shaped groove 302 is more deeply cut than the remainder of the teeth 70. A second special V-shaped groove 304 between two of the teeth 70 is diametrically opposed from the groove 302 and is more shallow cut than the grooves between the remainder of the teeth 70.

The gathering lever 134 is more heavily weighted on the side having the pins 136 and 138 so that there is a natural tendency of the pin 138 to rest in one of the grooves between teeth 70 of wheel 68. When the upper portion of the pendulum 98 moves from right to left, as seen in FIG. 7, the pin 138 is moved to the next succeeding tooth 70 of the wheel 68. The wheel 68 is not rotated counterclockwise by this movement since the detent arm 268 prevents such action. When the pendulum moves from right to left, the gathering pin 138 between the teeth 70 causes the rotation of the second wheel. The height of the grooves between adjacent teeth 70 with the exception of the V-grooves 302 and 304 is such that the end 306 of the gathering lever 134 normally moves between pins 150 and 152 of the releasing lever 144. Thus, for each completed cycle of the movement of the pendulum, there is a movement of one tooth 70 of the wheel 68. When the gathering pin 138 falls in the notch 304, the portion of the gathering lever 134 to the left of its pivot point with respect to pendulum 98 is higher than normal thereby causing the forward portion 306 of the gathering lever 134 to abut the lower pin 152 on releasing lever 144.

When the releasing lever is moved to the right, the pin 154 is removed from one of the notches 248 or 250 depending on which of the two notches the pin is residing. This causes the impulse rack to drop. The impulse fingers 162 and 164 have impulse surfaces 308 and 310, respectively. When the release lever 144 is moved to the right with the pin having been in notch 250, impulse surface 310 contacts the impulse wheel 132, as best seen in FIG. 4, causing a force to be applied to the pendulum 24 which causes an increased span of move ment of the oscillation of the pendulum 24. The pin 154 then lodges in notch 248 until the next time that the release lever 144 is urged to the right. That is, after the pin 154 is released from notch 250, the lever 144 is then again drawn towards the lateral surface 152 of the impulse rack 158 and is then caught in notch 248 before the impulse rack can fall any further. After the shallow cut 304, the gathering pin 138 starts falling in the uniform grooves between the teeth thereby causing the portion 306 of the gathering lever to project between the pins 150 and 152 for each of the next 29 oscillations. On the 30th oscillation, the gathering pin 138 is dropped into the deep cut 302 between adjacent teeth thereby causing gathering pin 136 to drop between the teeth 64 of the minute wheel 62 and, thus, when the pendulum moves from right to left, the minute wheel is also moved one tooth clockwise. The positioning wheel 256 is then lodged in the next succeeding groove between teeth 64 of wheel 62. When the gathering pin 138 is dropped into the deeper cut groove 302, the end 306 of the gathering lever 134 is raised thereby abutting pin 150 which causes the pin 154 to be drawn out of the notch 248 and thereby releasing the impulse rack again to fall.

Surface 308 of impulse finger 162 is then engaged with the impulse wheel 132 of the upper portion 98 of pendulum 24 thereby giving an oscillatory force to the pendulum to maintain the oscillation of the pendulum. However, when the pin 154 is lodged in the notch 246, the contacts 184 and 276 touch between the arms 182 and 186 thereby causing the circuit to be closed and the magnet to be energized thereby causing the upper portion 200 of the armature to be drawn towards the iron core 200 which thereby cuases the weighted arm to be flipped to the position shown in phantom in FIG. 5. This also causes the impulse rack to be driven to its uppermost position with the pin 154 residing in the notch 250.

It should also be noted (see FIG. 5) that an arm 312 is transversely and integrally secured to pin 270 which, as seen hereinabove in FIG. 4, is connected to the detent arm 268 in front of plate 34. The arm 312 extends at an angle slightly towards the viewer as seen in FIG. 5 and, when armature 186 is drawn towards cores 202, it engages arm 312 and thereby causes the finger 272 of the detent arm 268 to be urged into teeth of the second wheel 68. This action prevents the disengagement of the detent arm 268 from the teeth 70 because of the vibration resulting from the abrupt termination of movement of weighted arm 172 as flange 178 abuts the stopping plate 236. If the detent arm 268 is disengaged during the movement of the pendulum from right to left, as seen in FIG. 4, the second wheel is moved counterclockwise and causes the clock to run inaccurately.

It can, therefore, be seen that a new and improved pendulum clock has been provided. The arrangement of the means for maintaining the oscillation gives a uniform impulse to the pendulum every 30 seconds. The impulse is always uniform in view of the fact that the impulse rack 158 is driven by a uniform force at all times. That is, the force is always uniform since it is gravity that is drawing the weighted arm down and thereby provides the same force against the impulse wheel 132 each time that the impulse rack is released.

In addition, unique linkages have been provided be tween the hour wheel and the minute wheel which facilitate a simplified construction of the gear mechanism driving the hands 26, 28 and 30.

Without further elaboration, the foregoing will so fully illustrate my invention that others may by applying current or future knowledge, readily adapt the same for use under various conditions of service.

What is claimed as the invention is:

1. In a clock having a pendulum motor, said motor including a pendulum and electromechanical means for maintaining the oscillation of said pendulum comprising a weighted member, means for releasably securing said weighted member and means responsive to a predetermined plurality of oscillations of said pendulum for causing said means for releasably securing said weighted member to release said weighted member, whereupon said weighted member drops to apply a force to said pendulum to enable the pendulum swing to be increased after said force is applied thereto.

2. The clock of claim 1 wherein said weighted member drops a predetermined distance when it is released and said pendulum includes means for contacting said wieghted member as it drops to enable the pendulum swing to be increased after contact is made.

3. In a clock having a pendulum motor, said motor including a pendulum and means for maintaining the oscillation of said pendulum, comprising a weighted member, means for releasably securing said weighted member and means responsive to the oscillations of said pendulum for causing said means for releasably securing said weighted member to release said weighted member at predetermined intervals to drop same a predetermined distance and into contact with means on said pendulum to enable the pendulum swing to be increased after contact is made, said means for contacting comprising a wheel and said weighted member includes a pair of fingers each having an inclined surface for contacting said wheel as said weighted member is dropped.

4. In a clock having a gear wheel for rotating a second hand, a gear wheel for rotating a minute hand and a pendulum motor, said motor including a pendulum and means for maintaining the oscillation of said pendulum comprising a weighted member, means for releasably securing said weighted member and means responsive to the oscillation of said pendulum for causing said means for releasably securing said weighted member to release said weighted member at predetermined intervals, said weighted member applying a force to said pendulum each time said weighted member is released, said means for releasing said weighted member including a gathering member which is pivotably secured to said pendulum, said gathering member including a pair of transversely extending pins, a first of said pins acting to engage the teeth of said second wheel, the second of said pins acting to engage said minute wheel, said second wheel having three types of grooves between the teeth thereof, a first type of said groove being provided between substantially all of said teeth, the second type of groove between said teeth being more shallow than said first type and causing the rotation of said second wheel and enabling the release of said weighted member, the third type of said groove being more deeply out than said first type of groove and enabling the rotation of said minute wheel with said second wheel and release of said weighted member when said second pin is engaged therein.

5. The clock of claim 4 wherein said means for releasing further includes a pivotal spring biased release lever having a pair of closely spaced transversely extending pins and a transversely extending release pin, said weighted member having a notched surface against which said release pin is spring urged, said gathering member being thrust between said pair of pins of said release lever when said first pin of said gathering member is engaged in said first type of groove in said second wheel, said gathering member abutting one of said pair of pins when said first pin is engaged in said second type of groove and said gathering member abutting the other of said pair of pins when said first pin is in said third type of groove.

6. In a clock having a pendulum motor, said motor including a pendulum and means for maintaining the oscillation of said pendulum, comprising a weighted member, means for releasably securing said weighted member and means responsive to the oscillations of said pendulum for causing said means for releasably securing said weighted member to release said weighted member at predetermined intervals, said weighted member applying a force to said pendulum each time said weighted member is released, said weighted member including an electrical contact, said clock further including an electromagnet including a core and an armature, said core being energized each time said weighted member is dropped to its lowermost position with said electrical contact abutting said armature, said electrical contact abutting said armature causing a closed circuit which causes the energization of said electromagnet, thereby causing said armature to be drawn towards said electromagnet and moving said weighted member to its uppermost position, said weighted member acting to release said contact from said armature by inertia after said armature has reached the limit of its movement so that said electromagnet is energized only for a very short period of time.

7. In a gear mechanism for a clock, a gear wheel for rotation of a minute hand and a gear wheel for rotation of an hour hand, both said gear wheels being coaxially and rotatably mounted, a stationary gear wheel, said hour wheel being substantially the same size as and rotatably mounted adjacent to and aligned parallel and coaxially with said stationary wheel, said hour wheel having eleven-twelfths of the number of teeth of the stationary wheel and said minute wheel having a rotatable pinion secured thereto which engages simultaneously the teeth of said hour wheel and said stationary wheel, and means for rotating said minute wheel, said minute wheel being rotated a full revolution each'hour, said pinion engaging all of said teeth of said stationary wheel in 1 hour and thereby causing a 1/12 rotation of said hour wheel with respect to said stationary wheel.

8. The gear mechanism of claim 7 and further including a wheel for rotatably driving a second wheel, said second wheel being coaxially aligned with said minute wheel, and a pendulum, said pendulum having connected thereto a gathering member having a pair of transversely extending pins, said second wheel having a single deeply cut groove which enables said pins in 9. The gear mechanism of claim 7 wherein said stationary wheel has 60 teeth and said hour wheel has 55 teeth. 

1. In a clock having a pendulum motor, said motor including a pendulum and electromechanical means for maintaining the oscillation of said pendulum comprising a weighted member, means for releasably securing said weighted member and means responsive to a predetermined plurality of oscillations of said pendulum for causing said means for releasably securing said weighted member to release said weighted member, whereupon said weighted member drops to apply a force to said pendulum to enable the pendulum swing to be increased after said force is applied thereto.
 2. The clock of claim 1 wherein said weighted member drops a predetermined distance when it is released and said pendulum includes means for contacting said wieghted member as it drops to enable the pendulum swing to be increased after contact is made.
 3. In a clock having a pendulum motor, said motor including a pendulum and means for maintaining the oscillation of said pendulum, comprising a weighted member, means for releasably securing said weighted member and means responsive to the oscillations of said pendulum for causing said means for releasably securing said weighted member to release said weighted member at predetermined intervals to drop same a predetermined distance and into contact with means on said pendulum to enable the pendulum swing to be increased after contact is made, said means for contacting comprising a wheel and said weighted member includes a pair of fingers each having an inclined surface for contacting said wheel as said weighted member is dropped.
 4. In a clock having a gear wheel for rotating a second hand, a gear wheel for rotating a minute hand and a pendulum motor, said motor including a pendulum and means for maintaining the oscillation of said pendulum comprising a weighted member, means for releasably securing said weighted member and means responsive to the oscillation of said pendulum for causing said means for releasably securing said weighted member to release said weighted member at predetermined intervals, said weighted member applying a force to said pendulum each time said weighted member is released, said means for releasing said weighted member including a gathering member which is pivotably secured to said pendulum, said gathering member including a pair of transversely extending pins, a first of said pins acting to engage the teeth of said second wheel, the second of said pins acting to engage said minute wheel, said second wheel having three types of grooves between the teeth thereof, a first type of said groove being provided between substantially all of said teeth, the second type of groove between said teeth being more shallow than said first type and causing the rotation of said second wheel and enabling the release of said weighted member, the third type of said groove being more deeply cut than said first type of grOove and enabling the rotation of said minute wheel with said second wheel and release of said weighted member when said second pin is engaged therein.
 5. The clock of claim 4 wherein said means for releasing further includes a pivotal spring biased release lever having a pair of closely spaced transversely extending pins and a transversely extending release pin, said weighted member having a notched surface against which said release pin is spring urged, said gathering member being thrust between said pair of pins of said release lever when said first pin of said gathering member is engaged in said first type of groove in said second wheel, said gathering member abutting one of said pair of pins when said first pin is engaged in said second type of groove and said gathering member abutting the other of said pair of pins when said first pin is in said third type of groove.
 6. In a clock having a pendulum motor, said motor including a pendulum and means for maintaining the oscillation of said pendulum, comprising a weighted member, means for releasably securing said weighted member and means responsive to the oscillations of said pendulum for causing said means for releasably securing said weighted member to release said weighted member at predetermined intervals, said weighted member applying a force to said pendulum each time said weighted member is released, said weighted member including an electrical contact, said clock further including an electromagnet including a core and an armature, said core being energized each time said weighted member is dropped to its lowermost position with said electrical contact abutting said armature, said electrical contact abutting said armature causing a closed circuit which causes the energization of said electromagnet, thereby causing said armature to be drawn towards said electromagnet and moving said weighted member to its uppermost position, said weighted member acting to release said contact from said armature by inertia after said armature has reached the limit of its movement so that said electromagnet is energized only for a very short period of time.
 7. In a gear mechanism for a clock, a gear wheel for rotation of a minute hand and a gear wheel for rotation of an hour hand, both said gear wheels being coaxially and rotatably mounted, a stationary gear wheel, said hour wheel being substantially the same size as and rotatably mounted adjacent to and aligned parallel and coaxially with said stationary wheel, said hour wheel having eleven-twelfths of the number of teeth of the stationary wheel and said minute wheel having a rotatable pinion secured thereto which engages simultaneously the teeth of said hour wheel and said stationary wheel, and means for rotating said minute wheel, said minute wheel being rotated a full revolution each hour, said pinion engaging all of said teeth of said stationary wheel in 1 hour and thereby causing a 1/12 rotation of said hour wheel with respect to said stationary wheel.
 8. The gear mechanism of claim 7 and further including a wheel for rotatably driving a second wheel, said second wheel being coaxially aligned with said minute wheel, and a pendulum, said pendulum having connected thereto a gathering member having a pair of transversely extending pins, said second wheel having a single deeply cut groove which enables said pins in said gathering member to rotate said second wheel and said minute wheel simultaneously when one of said pins of said gathering member is in said deep groove of said second wheel as the other of said pair of pins engages said minute wheel.
 9. The gear mechanism of claim 7 wherein said stationary wheel has 60 teeth and said hour wheel has 55 teeth. 